Hi, We have just moved our boat from BC to Ontario and find that we definitely need air conditioning. I've starting doing some research but am a little confused as to how many BTUs and 'add ons'products are required. Can anyone offer advice or recommend products? The boat is a 40ft Catalina sailboat with a 13ft beam. Thanks for your help, withering in toronto rian
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Size suggestion / information
Rian, I recommend Mermaid in Ft. Myers FL. They will discuss your needs with you to help select the proper size unit. I will put a link to their web site below. I installed my own new AC and reverse cycle heat pump system recently. My boat is a Hunter 340, approx 34 ft. with an 11 ft 8 inch beam. The size unit I installed is a 16,500 BTU unit and it is 18,000 BTU in the heat mode. It is very adequately sized for my boat here in NC. I ran ductwork as similar to original factory except for some improvements of my own. In the middle of 95 degree very humid day it keeps all cabins cool and comfortable. I would think that Air Conditioning requirements would be substantially less in Toronto than here in North Carolina. Another item to consider is shore power. The unit I installed is the largest unit that will run on 30 amp shore power. Feel free to forward any further questions you may have about my installation.
Rian, I recommend Mermaid in Ft. Myers FL. They will discuss your needs with you to help select the proper size unit. I will put a link to their web site below. I installed my own new AC and reverse cycle heat pump system recently. My boat is a Hunter 340, approx 34 ft. with an 11 ft 8 inch beam. The size unit I installed is a 16,500 BTU unit and it is 18,000 BTU in the heat mode. It is very adequately sized for my boat here in NC. I ran ductwork as similar to original factory except for some improvements of my own. In the middle of 95 degree very humid day it keeps all cabins cool and comfortable. I would think that Air Conditioning requirements would be substantially less in Toronto than here in North Carolina. Another item to consider is shore power. The unit I installed is the largest unit that will run on 30 amp shore power. Feel free to forward any further questions you may have about my installation.
Agree with Wayne.
As usual. Just to add my two cents, the waters that your C40 will sit in are quite cool compared to North Carolina. Since the evaporator is water-cooled the 16500 Mermaid will be just the ticket. I have the 12K unit on my 37 Hunter in Lake Erie and you can't sit directly in front of an outlet, that cold. And Mermaid is a great company to work with. Like Wayne I installed myself. Since I never run the unit at the same time the engine is running I simply added a "T" ball valve to the engine inlet. Saved putting another hole in the boat. The outlet I drilled through the bootstripe to match other outlets like deck scuppers. Good luck.
As usual. Just to add my two cents, the waters that your C40 will sit in are quite cool compared to North Carolina. Since the evaporator is water-cooled the 16500 Mermaid will be just the ticket. I have the 12K unit on my 37 Hunter in Lake Erie and you can't sit directly in front of an outlet, that cold. And Mermaid is a great company to work with. Like Wayne I installed myself. Since I never run the unit at the same time the engine is running I simply added a "T" ball valve to the engine inlet. Saved putting another hole in the boat. The outlet I drilled through the bootstripe to match other outlets like deck scuppers. Good luck.
hot in Port Credit...?
The climate must've changed since I was a kid!
I grew up at the PCYC, many fond memories of summer day sailing, Wed nite fleet races, weekend regattas. Don't recall oppressive heat. But maybe would be less comfortable now. Caught the location name, just wanted to say hi.
The climate must've changed since I was a kid!
I grew up at the PCYC, many fond memories of summer day sailing, Wed nite fleet races, weekend regattas. Don't recall oppressive heat. But maybe would be less comfortable now. Caught the location name, just wanted to say hi.Response from heat wimp
Hi Bill, I agree that it's lovely here but let's remember, I've spent my life living in Vancouver. It rains so much that after a while you start wondering if God is telling you to build an Arc and start rounding up wildlife. For me - this is hot! I guess it's the humidity that gets you. Wayne & Ed - thanks very much for your input. I checked Mermaid's site and it looks promising. Up until then I had been calling local dealers. One of them told me that I would need two 16,000 BTU units for an estimated cost of 10 - 12k! One question - is it possible to install some kind of 'toggle' switch that will allow the air to be directed to either the main or aft cabin? Anyway, I'll share your info with the captain (I'm lowly crew, thank god). Thanks again, Rian
Hi Bill, I agree that it's lovely here but let's remember, I've spent my life living in Vancouver. It rains so much that after a while you start wondering if God is telling you to build an Arc and start rounding up wildlife. For me - this is hot! I guess it's the humidity that gets you. Wayne & Ed - thanks very much for your input. I checked Mermaid's site and it looks promising. Up until then I had been calling local dealers. One of them told me that I would need two 16,000 BTU units for an estimated cost of 10 - 12k! One question - is it possible to install some kind of 'toggle' switch that will allow the air to be directed to either the main or aft cabin? Anyway, I'll share your info with the captain (I'm lowly crew, thank god). Thanks again, Rian
"Toggle" switch.
The outlet vents that are shipped are round(4") and have a control for shutting down to fully closed. But since the unit outlet has a 6" supply you would not want to close down all but one outlet. That would be too much supply going into one 4" hose. And there is no fan speed control, at least not on the 12K. But you could close all but two assuming there were three or more. You bring up the hardest part of the installation, running the ducts. And call Mermaid(800-330-3553). Like we said very nice people to deal with.
The outlet vents that are shipped are round(4") and have a control for shutting down to fully closed. But since the unit outlet has a 6" supply you would not want to close down all but one outlet. That would be too much supply going into one 4" hose. And there is no fan speed control, at least not on the 12K. But you could close all but two assuming there were three or more. You bring up the hardest part of the installation, running the ducts. And call Mermaid(800-330-3553). Like we said very nice people to deal with.
A/C
My H410 is about the same size as your Catalina. Have a 16,500 for saloon and fwd stateroom and 7,000 for aft stateroom. Have revesre cycle mermaid also. Very happy with it. Bryce H410 S/V Spellbinder
My H410 is about the same size as your Catalina. Have a 16,500 for saloon and fwd stateroom and 7,000 for aft stateroom. Have revesre cycle mermaid also. Very happy with it. Bryce H410 S/V Spellbinder
Toggle Switch II
I agree with Ed on all of his advice. I have the same 4 inch grill in the aft cabin abd the V berth that can be closed or adjusted. It would be interesting to find out from Bryce how cool his h410 gets with only 1 air conditioner on. I measured the temperature of the air coming out of the grille into the main salon and it was as low as 39 degrees F. Brrr! There is no fan speed control on the 16.5 k units either. There is cooler weather coming next week ! BTW I bought and installed a "Condensator" from Mermaid. This fantastic device takes the condensate water overboard with the seawater. It is a venturi device that makes a vacuum and keeps the condensate pan empty. No water going in the bilge that way. We are going sailing for several days next week and will be tied up at marinas some of the evenings so we will get to use the AC. Wayne
I agree with Ed on all of his advice. I have the same 4 inch grill in the aft cabin abd the V berth that can be closed or adjusted. It would be interesting to find out from Bryce how cool his h410 gets with only 1 air conditioner on. I measured the temperature of the air coming out of the grille into the main salon and it was as low as 39 degrees F. Brrr! There is no fan speed control on the 16.5 k units either. There is cooler weather coming next week ! BTW I bought and installed a "Condensator" from Mermaid. This fantastic device takes the condensate water overboard with the seawater. It is a venturi device that makes a vacuum and keeps the condensate pan empty. No water going in the bilge that way. We are going sailing for several days next week and will be tied up at marinas some of the evenings so we will get to use the AC. Wayne
Not satisfied with our Mermaids!
We have a Catalina 36 MKII on Lake Lanier, Ga. A 16,000 Merimaid in main cabin and smaller one (I think) 5000 in the v-berth. Neither fan blows very hard and even with the 2 units the boat does not get "chilly", much less cool. Part of the problem is the lake water temp is probably in high 70's now. But summer is when you need the unit! We've never used them to heat.
We have a Catalina 36 MKII on Lake Lanier, Ga. A 16,000 Merimaid in main cabin and smaller one (I think) 5000 in the v-berth. Neither fan blows very hard and even with the 2 units the boat does not get "chilly", much less cool. Part of the problem is the lake water temp is probably in high 70's now. But summer is when you need the unit! We've never used them to heat.
IF you are going with Mermaid...
I just recently installed a Mermaid 16.5k btu in my Catalina 30. It seem to keep the boat cool enough and will drop the temp inside the boat from 95 to about 75 in less than 20 minutes. I live in South Texas where the water temp can easily reach 90. IF you do decide to go with a Mermaid, buy it through DEFENDER. They were acutally substantially cheaper than buying it from Mermaid direct. I don't know why or understand it, but it's true. Good luck. Also, they have excellent technical support for installation purposes.
I just recently installed a Mermaid 16.5k btu in my Catalina 30. It seem to keep the boat cool enough and will drop the temp inside the boat from 95 to about 75 in less than 20 minutes. I live in South Texas where the water temp can easily reach 90. IF you do decide to go with a Mermaid, buy it through DEFENDER. They were acutally substantially cheaper than buying it from Mermaid direct. I don't know why or understand it, but it's true. Good luck. Also, they have excellent technical support for installation purposes.
Hey Rian, wanna buy a bridge?
If you have a dealer that wants to sell you a unit for 12k, then I'll sell you one for 10k! You can purchase a 16.5k reverse cycle mermaid for about $1400 through defender. Whoever told you that it would cost 10k was looking to take you for a ride!
If you have a dealer that wants to sell you a unit for 12k, then I'll sell you one for 10k! You can purchase a 16.5k reverse cycle mermaid for about $1400 through defender. Whoever told you that it would cost 10k was looking to take you for a ride!
To Gloria.
Have you had your unit(s) checked for proper installation and freon level? Something seems amiss to me. Sunday morning with cabin temp at 90+ and water temp around 70 my wife asked me to turn ours off after 30 minutes. As Wayne pointed out, 39 degrees at the outlet! And if anything our fan speed is too high, would like at least a two-speed option. Sounds like a wiring problem if the fan is too slow.
Have you had your unit(s) checked for proper installation and freon level? Something seems amiss to me. Sunday morning with cabin temp at 90+ and water temp around 70 my wife asked me to turn ours off after 30 minutes. As Wayne pointed out, 39 degrees at the outlet! And if anything our fan speed is too high, would like at least a two-speed option. Sounds like a wiring problem if the fan is too slow.
Gloria...Agree with Ed
We keep our H37C in Houston and our A/C is of unknown origin. Our water temp, here, gets well into the 80's. Never the less, the A/C will freeze us out on the hottest day in summer. My wife is always complaining that it is too cold for her. You definately have a problem with your unit..
We keep our H37C in Houston and our A/C is of unknown origin. Our water temp, here, gets well into the 80's. Never the less, the A/C will freeze us out on the hottest day in summer. My wife is always complaining that it is too cold for her. You definately have a problem with your unit..
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